FOR the first time in months, the Ukrainian capital Kiev has been targeted by missile strike, local media reported yesterday.

It came just days after an explosion on the Kerch Strait Bridge that links Crimea to Russia.

In televised remarks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow had launched the long-range missile strikes in retaliation for Saturday’s bridge attack.

“It is obvious that the Ukrainian secret services ordered, organized and carried out the terrorist attack aimed at destroying Russia’s critical civilian infrastructure,” Putin said yesterday.

At least eight people have been killed and dozens injured in Kyiv with several other cities also targeted by Russian missile attacks.

Rostyslav Smyrnov, an aide to the Ukrainian interior minister, said six cars had caught fire after the initial attack — and another 15 vehicles were damaged.

Explosions have also been heard in Lviv, Ternopil, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, and Zaporizhzhia.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said some critical infrastructure had been hit.

Ukraine’s top general said Ukrainian forces shot down at least 41 missiles yesterday morning.

“This morning, 75 missiles were launched, 41 of them were neutralized by our air defense,” General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, wrote on Twitter.

The last attack on Kyiv was in June with one missile hitting an apartment building, killing one and injuring six. (SD-Agencies)